ELS Education Services Inc.

Group photo of the winners of the 2015 Many Languages, One World International Essay Contest in the UN General Assembly Hall July 2015.

ELS Education Services Inc. is a partner with United Nations Academic Impact in the Many Languages, One World international essay contest in which students around the world are challenged to write an essay on a UN-related theme in an official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) that is neither their mother tongue nor primary language of instruction. The essays have challenged students around the globe to examine global citizenship, cultural understanding, and the role that multilingual ability has in fostering both. The goal of the contest is to promote peace and cross cultural understanding through the study of languages, and to highlight for students the life enriching benefits of mastering other languages. Sixty winners from around the world, 10 in each official UN language) then have the opportunity to spend a week at a Global Youth Forum in the United States and to speak at the United Nations General Assembly.

Though their programs, ELS has shown a commitment to multilingualism and global citizenship, connecting students with a desire to learn a foreign language with the tools needed for them to succeed. Over the past 50 years, ELS has helped more than 1,100,000 students from 175 countries around the world learn English and with over 60 locations throughout the USA, Canada, and Australia (over 50 located on university campuses), ELS provides students with a wide variety of options ranging from intensive English programs and university placement assistance to executive business programs and vacation learning options.

Check out this video for highlights from the 2016 Many Languages, One World contest.

Many Languages, One World 2016

In “Many Languages, One World 2016,” 51 of the 60 winners attend the Many Languages, One World® Global Youth Forum from July 25-31.